Tsunami relief ride and BBQ
May 31, 2011
On Saturday, the Hokkaido JET Project Outreach chair in Kutchan held a charity event to raise money for those affected by the tsunami in Japan last March. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make it on the ride (I stopped by for the food!), but I wanted to make sure as many people knew about his efforts as possible. The event raised around 80,000 yen, which will probably be donated to an area that one of our locals visited in the last few weeks.
Besides, the event brought out a lot of the local community, who I was able to meet for the first time.
Glen over at Studio343 was there for the whole time and put up several more photos. Check it out!
Edit: I got some more pictures from the event! They’re below:
Posted by: Max | category: Uncategorized | Tag: Comment: 0
Morning mist and bird calls
May 30, 2011
Having only arrived back in Niseko after a few weeks in the US last Monday, my roommate woke me up early last week to go explore Asahigaoka Park with one of the NPB’s nature guides, Naomi, and a few others.
The weather may not have been ideal, but the birds certainly didn’t care. We could hear a number of different type of warblers, some small woodpeckers, crows, and other types of (mostly small) birds with beautiful songs.
Naturally, there were a few other things to see in the park. The snow has really only vanished in the last month or so, and the wildflowers are starting to pop up throughout the park. For that matter, they’re sprouting throughout Kutchan, Niseko, and Hirafu, adding some energetic splashes of color to the recently revealed greens on the mountains and streets. The cherry blossoms have been blooming for a while now, and the pinks of some of the late varieties are astonishingly deep.
I’m happy to say that, even though it was early, we weren’t alone in the park.
There were a couple of other groups out enjoying the view and the still morning. Right as we got to the top of the local ski hill (part of the park), the clouds had just started to lift from Mt. Yotei. All in all, a beautiful morning. May there be many more like it.
- Max
Posted by: Max | category: Uncategorized | Tag: Comment: 0
Le Soup Curry
May 16, 2011
I returned to Sapporo this weekend and had Soup Curry, which I love. I ordered the curry with 10 sorts of vegetables and added the porc fried – it was so big! It took an hour to eat it!
Soup Curry is a really popular food in Sapporo.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapporo (See the topic of Culture and entertaiment)
It is now famous in all Japan, but I believe that the soup curry restaurants in Hokkaido taste a bit different (and better!) from ones in other areas. Here in Niseko, we have a few soup curry restaurants, too. I can’t wait to try them all…
***information on soup curry restaurants in Niseko***
http://www.nisekotourism.com/yellow-page/index.php?lang=en&g1=03&g2=01&g3=03
FRANCAIS:
J’ai revenue à Sapporo ce weekend et mangé le Soup Curry qui me plaît beaucoup. Là-bas, j’ai demendé le curry avec 10 légumes et ajouté des porc, c’était énorme! J’ai pris une heure pour le manger.
Le Soup Curry, c’est une gastronomie représentative de Sapporo. C’est conu maintenant dans tout le japon, et pourtant je crois que les restaurants du soup curry à Hokkaido se distingues par ses saveurs de ceux d’autres endroits. Ici à Niseko, il y a quelques restaurants du soup curry, je veux bien d’y aller et dominer les soup curry de Niseko.
***L’information des restaurants soup curry à Niseko (en anglais)***
http://www.nisekotourism.com/yellow-page/index.php?lang=en&g1=03&g2=01&g3=03
Posted by: Yoko | category: Uncategorized | Tag: Comment: 0
New Life in Niseko; La vie nouvelle à Niseko
May 12, 2011
Hi, it’s Yoko who have just started to work for the NPB office. I’m from Sapporo, so the native Dosanko, but I am debutante of Niseko life. All starts in spring in Japan and I feel also starting the everything new life in Niseko.
I love Hokkaido, salsa, onsen and gourmet. There are many marverous Kakenagashi onsens, the delicious foodstuffs and the attractive night areas here and also Susukino in Sapporo, I’d like to write down such infomations.
Just say hi when you see me around!
FRANCAIS;
Bonjour! C’est Yoko qui est juste commencé à travailler chez NPB. Je suis de Sapporo, donc la Dosanko natale, mais je suis toute debutante de la vie Niseko. Tous commence au printemps au japon et je me sens aussi tout commencer la vie nouvelle par ici à Niseko.
J’aime beaucoup de Hokkaido, Salsa, Onsen et gastronomie. Ici il y a beacoup de bons Kakenagashi Onsens (coulant de la source constamment) et des bonnes denrées alimentaires, et la cartie nuit charmante ici et aussi à Susukino à Sapporo, je veux bien informer des choses comme ceci.
Peut-être il n’y pas beaucoup de francophone ici, n’hesitez pas à concater en français pour moi. On va s’amuser ensemble dans la grande nature de Hokkaido!
Posted by: Yoko | category: Uncategorized | Tag: Comment: 0
5 metre-high snow wall !
May 04, 2011
It is said spring has come to Niseko with melting snow and wild flowers, but it is true just about the foot of Mt.Yotei. We have lots of snow on the hill yet and the ski resorts are open during this golden week. We are still waiting for the backcountry ski season under the beautiful spring sunshine.
During winter some of the roads across the Niseko mountain range are closed for snow cover. We couldn’t wait for natural melting snow to open those roads in time for holiday season ,because …. Click to read more…
Posted by: natsu | category: Uncategorized | Tag: Comment: 0
Charity bazaar in Niseko
Apr 11, 2011
I went to the Charity bazaar in Niseko Civic Center last weekend.Look at those many people comming to the bazaar!
In addition to the bazaar, there were lots of stores opened by local people, live music,fortune-telling, massage, and yoga classes.
I was glad to see Mr.Arimura, a photographer, whose works you can see in the NPB website.He sold picture postcards for raising money.
I saw this event was not only good for charity but helpful for local people to get to know.
I bought a bagel from one of the stores, which is a newly opening cafe near my house. I’ve already been a fan of their bagels!
Busy winter season has gone and lots of people are getting away from Niseko recently. People remain here tend to feel kind of lonly these days, so this was a good oppotunity to join people together.
Posted by: natsu | category: Uncategorized | Tag: Comment: 0
Not just powder, but sherbet-like “showder”
Apr 07, 2011
We have been blessed with beautiful weather for the past couple of days in Niseko. With Mt. Yotei and the peak of Annupuri unobscured by clouds, this is the best time for spring skiing! Today, one of my neighbors was in the Hirafu #1 parking lot when I pulled up. She said, “I’m going out to go training!” so I followed her up the mountain.
When riding on the King No.4 lift, it was so windy around the peak that we felt like we were going to blow away! Instead, we took the King No.3 lift up and skied down Jumbo over and over again.
The conditions, she said, make a sound like pouring sugar, and is nice and soft. The sherbert-like corn snow is called “showder” among Niseko locals.
It may not be powder, but “showder” is fun to ski as well! These are prime spring skiing conditions – come try spring skiing on Niseko’s corn snow!
Posted by: natsu | category: Mountains, Out there..., Uncategorized | Tag: Comment: 0
Niseko Charity 2011
Mar 28, 2011
To support the people who have been suffered by the earthquake and tsunami that hit Tohoku and eastern coastal areas of Japan, a Niseko Charity Event was held on March 27 in Grand Hirafu ski resort.
37 of professional skiers and snowboarders and 123 of their fans who sympathize with the goal of the event gathered at Niseko Grand Hirafu.
Posted by: natsu | category: Out there..., Uncategorized, events | Tag: Comment: 0
Spring message from Niseko
Mar 28, 2011
Cherry trees are said to have started blooming somewhere in Japan recently. We have to wait for a while till flowers bloom, but still can feel some spring sunshine!
Blue sky, fluffy powder in the tree runs and soft corn snow in the base area in the Niseko Village Ski resort ( pictures taken on March 22) .
We’d like to express our heartfelt condolence and sympathy to all who have suffered from the huge earthquake and tsunami hit the eastern coastal areas on March 11.
The earthquake activity has not directly affected Niseko so far. We’d pray to those affected by the earthquakes and hope every reconstruction and prosperity.
As our message to all who love and support Niseko from all over the world, we have opened new webpages to introduce the upcoming melting snow season in Niseko.
Japanese 輝きの春 ニセコへようこそ！
English Spring Sunshine Green of Niseko!
Korea 봄빛 넘치는 니세코로 어서 오세요!
Simplified Chinese “春季推荐”
Traditional Chinese“春季推薦”
You are always most welcomed in Niseko with the beautiful nature in the colorful four-seasons.
Posted by: natsu | category: Activities, Food, Green Season, Mountains, Out there..., Uncategorized | Tag: Comment: 0
Miraculous comeback of powder again!!!!
Mar 10, 2011
With 35 cm of new snow in the past 24 hours we are currently sitting at 65 cm in the past 2 days! Conditions is super-excellent, with all the peak lifts running and most of the gates open. Though peak gates 2, 3 and 6 will be kept closed all day today, there is knee-depth or waist-depth powder inside the patroled area.
Enjoy but save your energy to mine your car at the parking lot.
See you out here!
Please Check out the latest wether and what’s open.
Posted by: natsu | category: Uncategorized | Tag: Comment: 0
